Folding structure.



E. M. ATKINSON.

FOLDING STRUCTURE. APPLICATIION FILED JUNE 6. m4.

mmmm Patented July 6,1915.

Edward M. AI/r/nson.

I I j ATTORNEY EDWARD M. ATKINSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

FOLDING STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July e, 211L915.

Application filed June 6, 1914. Serial No. 843,574.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. ATKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding Structures, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding devices of the type adaptable for use as a foot-rest, or couch.

The main object of my invention is to provide a folding device of this type which will ofler a spring supported surface mounted on a rigidly braced collapsible frame.

It is also my object to make the frame adjustable to varying heights and lengths to suit the convenience of the user. By having the device collapsible it may be packed in a very small space and transported without difiiculty. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, partly in section, showing. the same adapted for use as a foot-rest in connection with a chair; Fig. 2- is an enlarged vertical section taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another view of the parts shown in Fig. 2; in this view the device is shown folded laterally, but not longitudinally, and the foot-supporting top'has been removed for the purpose of clearness; Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail of construction showing the manner in which the cone compression springs have their convolutions lashed together so as to stiffen them against lateral movement; this view also shows the manner of connection between the springs and the foot-supporting top; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device, showing it folded longitudinally, the top having been removed for purposes of clearness.

A series of frame members, a, are pivoted together at their ends and center points so as to form a pair of parallel lazy-tongs which constitute the side frames of my device. The number and length of the members, a, may be varied in accordance with the size of the structure desired. The means for holding the lazy-tongs in their expanded position is as follows: One of the members, a, is provided with a number of screw-eyes b. A hook, o, is pivoted .pression springs d. The outer portions of the convolutions of each spring are lashed together by the ligatures, e, as shown in Fig. 4:. Pivotally attached to the lower ends of the elements, a, are the transverse struts, f, each end pair of struts being pivoted together at their middle points. See Fig. 2. Each strut is provided at its free end with an eye 9. A series of hooks, h, in the members, a, are adapted to be engaged by the eyes, 9, when the struts, f, are expanded to the position shown in Fig. 2. The width between the lazy tongs sides may be varied by engaging the eyes, g, with difierent hooks it. When the struts, f, are not in working position, the device may be folded laterally, as shown in Fig. 8. A tension member is used to hold the lower sides of the. lazy-tongs against spreading. Said tension member consists of a wire, 7, fastened to the foot of one of the members, a, by a staple g. The end of the wire is provided'with a number of eyes, t, adapted to be engaged with the hooks, 8, located opposite the staple g.

A canvas or burlap top, 2', provided with a center lacing, j, has two longitudinal cords, 7c, firmly anchored in said top. These cords are securely fastened to the inner portions of the upper convolutions of the springs, d, and in this way the strain will be uniformly distributed over the body of the said top.

When the width of the structure is varied, previously explained, the lacing j may be adjusted to maintain the top, z, taut. When the length of the device is varied, the lacing of the top, 2', is correspondingly arranged. The sides of the top, 2', are of such length as to lap over far enough to hide the springs, and the ends of the top, 5, are made with a flap portion, m, which may be used to cover the feet of the person using the de vice.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the device arranged for practical use in connection with the chair n.

I claim:

1. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, means for holding the sides braced in expanded position, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, and a fabric top firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs.

2. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, adjustable means for holding the sides braced in expanded position, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, said braces being adjustable as to position, tension members connecting the lower portions of the frame sides, cone coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, and a fabric top firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs.

3. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, adjustable means for holding the sides braced in expanded position, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, said braces being adjustable as to position, tension members connecting the lower portions of the frame sides, cone coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, a fabric top firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs, and lacing located in said tops.

4:. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, lazy-tong frame sides, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, and a fabric top firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs.

5. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, lazy-tong frame sides, means for holding the sides braced in expanded position, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, said braces being adjustable as to position, tension members connecting the lower portions of the frame sides, cone compression coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, and a fabric top made with overlapping ends and sides firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs.

6. A collapsible structure comprising expansible frame sides, lazy-tong frame sides, means for holding the sides braced in expanded position, transverse braces for spacing the frame sides apart, said braces being adjustable as to position, tension members connecting the lower portions of the frame sides, cone compression coil springs mounted on the tops of the frame side elements, the convolutions of said springs being lashed together at their outside portions, a fabric top made with overlapping ends and sides firmly connected to the upper convolutions of said springs, and lacing located in said top.

EDWARD M. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

WM. C. SCHMITT, Cnom Lone.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionen o1 Yatents, Washington, I). G. 

